Power monitor-glitch trap system

• US 7,180,301 B1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Department Of Health And Human Services
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Hynes, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEB, ANJAN K
• Application Number:
  US11/296,709
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 324/102, 324/113, 324/76.17, 324/522, 324/613, 324/620
• US Class Current: 324/522
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/2513 Arrangements for monitoring electric power systems, e.g. power lines or loads; Logging

Abstract

A device for sensing and capturing the state of a direct current electrical power line comprising a voltage comparator having a pair of inputs, one of the inputs adapted to be connected to the power line, the other input connected to an analog and digital I/O module for supplying a threshold voltage to the voltage comparator, a plurality of latches, an equal plurality of integrators having different time constants, each integrator connected between the output of the voltage comparator and one of the plurality of latches for supplying an integrated replica of the output from the comparator to the latch, the analog and digital I/O module also being connected to the plurality of latches for reading the states of the respective latches and for resetting any set latch, and a programmed computer connected to the analog and digital I/O module for controlling the operation of the analog and digital module and for logging the occurrence of the setting of a latch.

Claims

1. A device for sensing and capturing the state of a direct current electrical power line comprising:

detecting means adapted to be connected to the direct current electrical power line for detecting a glitch; and

recording means connected to the detecting means for recording that a glitch has been detected and the extent of the glitch,

wherein the detecting means includes a voltage comparator having a pair of inputs and an output, one of the inputs adapted to be connected to the power line, and

wherein the recording means includes a plurality of latches, and an equal plurality of integrators having different time constants, each integrator connected between the voltage comparator and one of the plurality of latches for supplying an integrated replica of the output from the comparator to the one latch to set the one latch when the voltage on the power line falls below the threshold voltage for a time determined by the respective time constant of the integrator.

2. The device recited in claim 1 wherein the recording means includes:

an analog and digital I/O module connected to the plurality of latches for reading the states of the respective latches and for resetting any set latch.

3. The device recited in claim 2 wherein the recording means includes:

a computer connected to the analog and digital I/O module for controlling the operation of the analog and digital module and for logging the occurrence of the setting of a latch.

4. A device for sensing and capturing the state of a direct current electrical power line comprising:

detecting means adapted to be connected to the direct current electrical power line for detecting a glitch; and

recording means connected to the detecting means for recording that a glitch has been detected and the extent of the glitch,

wherein the detecting means includes a voltage comparator having a pair of inputs and an output, one of the inputs adapted to be connected to the power line, and

wherein the recording means includes a plurality of latches, and an equal plurality of integrators having different time constants, each integrator connected between the output of the voltage comparator and one of the plurality of latches for supplying an integrated replica of the output from the comparator to the one latch.

5. A device for sensing and capturing the state of a direct current electrical power line comprising:

a voltage comparator having a pair of inputs and an output, one of the inputs adapted to be connected to the power line;

an analog and digital I/O module connected to the other input of the voltage comparator for supplying a threshold voltage to the voltage comparator;

plurality of latches;

an equal plurality of integrators having different time constants, each integrator connected between the output of the voltage comparator and one of the plurality of latches for supplying an integrated replica of the output from the comparator to the one latch;

the analog and digital I/O module also connected to the plurality of latches for reading the states of the respective latches and for resetting any set latch; and

a computer connected to the analog and digital I/O module for controlling the operation of the analog and digital module and for logging the occurrence of the setting of a latch.